[RatRipper]

this is hit and run because it is late:

Saved by grace through faith, so that no man can boast that his works saved him. Man is incapable of being saved on the basis of his works, but the works are evidence of the salvation. We still sin and need forgiveness even after we are saved.

What works did the thief on the cross have? His faith and belief in Christ gained him salvation.

[Cronos]

As explained in post above -- our salvation is from Christ's sacrifice only. It is God's grace that saves us, we cannot save ourselves, that is Church teaching since Apostolic times.

Our works are just following God's words to "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mt 16:24) and our works are our following scripture which tells us that we must work out our own salvation (which does not mean we can save ourselves, yet points out that we can lose the freely granted grace of Salvation that Jesus Christ gave us by His sacrifice on the Cross)